Means for assisting persons in swimming, etc.



Jan. 6, 1931. A. CHHSTMSON 1,188,013

MEANS FOR ASSISTING PERSONS IN SWIMMING, ETC

Filed March 24, 1930 Ejvwentoz August Christiansan Eatented Jan, 6, 1%!

AUGUST CHRISTIANSON, oriia nooknxn, NEW was 7' I MEANS son ASSISTINGreasons IN SWIMMING, me.

Application and March 2 4, 1930. Serial No. 438,3 30;-

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means forassisting a person in swimming andfloating, andhas for its object toprovide a'device similar in form tothe web-foot of a water bird. Thesaid device may be'attached or connected to any footwear, but shouldpreferably be attached to a shoemade as a bathing shoe.

As the construct-ionof this dGVlCG'lS com- I0 paratively' simple thecost of manufacturing" device; Figure 2 is a transverse longitudinalsection on same; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line3-3 of Figure 1, while Figure 4 is a-detail view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, indicates my device, Whichcomprises a rubber webbing 11 extended overa skeleton frame 12. i V

The said frame 12 is arrangedbeneath the bottom of'a shoe, preferably ofthe form and shape, as a bathing shoe, or slipper, 13,- and attached tothe latter in v, The said frame 12 comprises a main stem 1 1 with forkedmembers 15, made from a comparatively thin piece of metal; the said mainstem being slightly thicker towards its front, while the very frontportion, 16 is slightly reduced in width, of a rather rounded shape anddownwardly bent, as shown in Figure 2 by numeral 17. l At the edge of heshoe 13, the members are pr'ovided with hinged extensions 18, the latterbeing joined in such a manner as to allow a comparatively wide, latitudein moving up and down; the said extensions being likefront portions,while the extensions themselves are formed with a slight upwardcurvature, as shown in Figure 4.

The webbing 11 is attached to the skele- Figure l is a bottom plan viewof (my any suitable manner, V v

to sa d arms at the edge of the shoe,

r wise formed with slightly downwardly bent.

' ton frame and its adjoining members by pla c- 7 ing at the bottom ofsaid frame a th1n rub-.

ber, or rubberized, sheet 19 withthe upper surface thereof made stronglyadhesive, and

on, top thereof, in such a manner t h at the skeleton frame members willbe arranged therebetweemis placed another layer the former; thesaidlayers being 20, like tightly rs smear {eon-m secured together'byadhesive means, or m any suitable manner.

By attaching piece thereof is arranged to project slightly over the'edgeof the shoe, as shown at 21 in Figure 3.

The rubber webbing is presented with slight curvatures between theprojecting j ribs 18. s

It is obvious that not limited to any particular form struction, andthat it may be made suitable material. It is furthermore the presentinvention is of conof any the said upper layer the end not indispensablethat all the features of the inventionbe used conjointly, as they may beadvantageously em loyed in various combinations and subcom inations.

' Having thus described my lnventio I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

n,what

1. In a device of the'class described, a skeleton frame, suit-ableforattachment to a shoe, the said frame having a' plurality ofextension-members pivotally engaged the said members being formed with aslight curvamembers, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the classdescribd,

skeleton frame, provided at its front with a forwardly projectingslightly tapered arm, a

number of extension-members hingedly connected-to the saidframe, and aflexible web bing, comprising two layers, extended between the sa dmembers and skeleton frame,

substantially as and, for the purpose set I forth.

v 3. In a device 'of the class described, a skeleton frame, suitable forattachment to a shoe, the said frame being formed with a central stemhaving branch-formed sid bers, extension-members pivotally co ememnnected v V to the latter and being. formed with a slight curvature,a flexible webbing consisting of two layers embracing the said skeletonframe and extension members, shown and described.

1 4:; In a device of the class described, a

skeleton frame, suitable for attachment to a.

shoe, the said skeleton frame having connected to it in a pivotal mannerextension members, the latter being formed with a curvature, a flexiblewebbingextending between the said extension members and skeleton frame,embracing both, and being securely attached to the lower side of a shoe,substantially as shown and described. 7 V

Signed at New York city, in the county of.

New York and State of New York this 18th 7 I day'of March, A. D. 1980;

AUGUST CHRISTIAN SON.

substantially as I e

